Human rights lawyer and former Chairman of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, has come to the defence of John Onaiyekan following recent criticism directed at the Catholic cleric by the Presidency.
In a post shared on social media, Odinkalu highlighted Onaiyekan’s academic achievements, describing him as one of the brightest students to emerge from Nigeria’s old Northern Region.
According to him, Onaiyekan graduated from Mount St. Michael’s Secondary School in Aliade, now in Benue State, in 1962 as the overall best graduating student in the entire old Northern Region, which then comprised the area now covered by 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“When John Cardinal Onaiyekan completed High School at Mount St. Michael’s Secondary School in Aliade (now Benue State) in 1962, he graduated as the absolute best graduating student in all of the old Northern Region (19 States & the FCT),” Odinkalu wrote.
The senior advocate went on to criticize those attacking the cardinal, suggesting that the criticism was politically motivated.
“Today, he is set upon by hirelings of a man who is more comfortable in the company of #FakeBishops than with the real ones and who cannot say what primary or secondary school he went to,” he stated.
Although Odinkalu did not mention anyone by name, his remarks are widely seen as a response to recent comments by presidential aide Temitope Ajayi, who accused Cardinal Onaiyekan of abusing “clerical privilege” after the cleric granted an interview discussing the private meeting between the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The reference to “fake bishops” appears to allude to the controversy that followed the 2023 general election, when individuals dressed as bishops attended an event linked to the ruling party, sparking widespread public debate.
Odinkalu’s comments have generated reactions online, with supporters praising his defence of the cardinal’s record and integrity, while others argued that the debate should remain focused on the issues raised by the Catholic Bishops rather than personal attacks.
The exchange adds another layer to the growing public discourse surrounding the relationship between the Tinubu administration and religious leaders, particularly after the recent meeting between the President and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria.